Iran respecting commitments under JCPOA: IAEA

In another quarterly report on Iran on Thursday, the UN nuclear agency, which is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the nuclear deal, said Tehran has not exceeded the limits set in the accord on its low-enriched uranium and heavy water stockpile, Reuters reported.

"Throughout the reporting period, Iran had no more than 130 metric tonnes of heavy water... Iran's total (low) enriched uranium stockpile did not exceed 300 kg (kilograms)," the IAEA report said.

Last July, Iran and the P5+1 group, namely Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany, inked the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Under the JCPOA, which took effect in January, Iran undertook to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related bans imposed against Tehran.

The deal requires Iran's storage of uranium enriched to up to 3.67 percent purity to stay below 300 kilograms. Tehran has also agreed to keep its heavy water stockpile below 130 metric tonnes.

According to the Associated Press, the report also said Iran had started building rotor tubes for centrifuges.

"Related technical discussions" on the area of concern are underway, AP cited the confidential report as saying.

The JCPOA does not prevent Tehran from manufacturing such parts, but has placed certain restrictions.

Since January, the agency has released regular reports confirming the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities and Tehran's commitment to the agreement.

In April, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano hailed Iran for respecting the nuclear accord, saying the Islamic Republic has even gone beyond its obligations.

Iran "is implementing not just its safeguards agreement with the Agency, but also its Additional Protocol" to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which allows for snap inspection of nuclear facilities, said Amano.